New York hires lawyer to help keep Bills in place

The Bills must stay in Buffalo through at least the 2019 season. The powers-that-be are hoping to ensure that they stay much longer than that.

According to the Associated Press, the Empire State Development board approved hiring an attorney to assist with keeping the team in Buffalo. More accurately, an existing contract with Foley & Lardner was extended.

Firm partner Irwin Raij participated in the process that resulted in the current agreement giving the Bills a one-time out in 2020 as part of a 10-year lease. His next goal presumably will be coming up with an arrangement that would keep the team in place over the long haul in the event a new stadium is built.

While the current lease doesn’t guarantee that the team will remain in Buffalo indefinitely, it buys time to come up with an arrangement that will entice the next owner to stay put.

Bottom line like I’ve said all along- the local Buffalo billionaires need to pool together and/or step up. All these backup plans are great, but it comes down to one final factor: a local business man (or several) with deep pockets who we know wont move them anywhere needs to step in and take control. The idea that Buffalo might be able to convince an owner with no ties to the Buffalo area to stay is ludicrous.

Owner with Buffalo ties, or bye-bye Bills. It’s as simple as that.

ralphwilsonisrich says:Apr 30, 2014 4:55 PM

Damn lawyers making the only money in this country!

vekster1820 says:Apr 30, 2014 6:10 PM

Anybody thinking that it’s only Buffalo tied owners to buy the Bills and keep it in a Buffalo is dead wrong.

Mark Polancarz has stated thst he has spoken with a number of out of town investors with no ties to Buffalo that have told him they would keep the team in Buffalo and understand the market and value of doing so. LA is not half the football town Buffalo is.